Up to 5 years in prison for Pittsfield man on drug, weapons charges

PITTSFIELD — A city man was sentenced to up to five years in prison after admitting on Tuesday to trafficking about $14,000 worth of cocaine and illegal weapons possession.

Jose E. Navarrete, 42, also was ordered to forfeit about $3,700 in cash and a 2010 Kia Forte as part of the agreed-upon plea between prosecutors and Navarrete's attorney, Robert Sullivan.

Members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant of Navarrete's home, vehicle and person on Nov. 12, 2015.

The search recovered about 100 grams of cocaine, several cellphones, scales, baking powder and other dealer paraphernalia as well as a .38 caliber handgun and ammunition.

The cocaine had an estimated value of $14,600, according to Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Richard Locke.

Navarrete had neither a license to carry a firearm nor a Firearms Identification Card, and some of the recovered money had been previously marked by law enforcement and used in controlled purchases of drugs.

He pleaded guilty before Judge John Agostini to charges of cocaine trafficking, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

Agostini adopted the agreed recommendation of four to five years in prison, followed by one year of probation. He agreed to stay the imposition of Navarrete's sentence until 9 a.m. Nov. 3.

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